December 1998 - Sinister

Re: Sinister: Greetings Everyone
by Blake Hamilton 21 Dec '98

21 Dec '98

>Also a big fan of (I wouldn't call it fret buzz) but rather the cool >squeaky new strings sound that one gets when moving up and down the fret >board without fully releasing pressure on the strings (you can hear it >on 'Beautiful' amongst others). > >Bill Yes, that sound is everywhere with B&S, and it's quite nice. Yet, when talking fret buzz, nobody compares to Mr. Murdoch. I realize he probably does this on purpose, sometimes, but I must admit that's it's very nice sounding--evidence that B&S don't try to hide mistakes with overdubs or whatever. Natural, I would say. -blake +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to "majordomo(a)majordomo.net". For list archives and searching, list rules, FAQ, poor jokes etc, see http://www.majordomo.net/sinister +---+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" +---+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Re: Sinister: Call me crazy
by Blake Hamilton 21 Dec '98

21 Dec '98

Ok well-- This is certainly a lot to take in, so i'll address it right off the bat... B&S and Radiohead are different bands. When the comparison was made between them, it was not done stylistically or musically, but it was gaged by the way it made (at least me) feel when I put on a record. Of course, the feeling I get when I put on okc and sinister are completely different, yet incredibly similar. On another level, as a radiohead fan, I particularly find the comments made about Radiohead's lyrics to be incredibly inaccurate. Thom Yorke, who is perhaps even more obscure than Mr. Murdoch, writes a hell of a line, and I do think that one needs to look at okc as a truly artisitic album, with unified themes, statements, and not just a lineup of pop anthems. I would, however, state that Radiohead as a band is constantly changing. No longer are they the children of nihilistic grunge. It is something different now, and I think that it must be respected. One cannot utterly disregard Radiohead's music as oozing in self loathing, because, if you listen hard enough to it, it appears that way. It's the same way with B&S--you'll find that self loathing in there as well, if you really want to. But you must understand that these two bands operate on different levels. Both have different objectives and different musical tastes and such. I urge you to glance through at some of the lyrics of okc. They are at times boring (like any lyrical statement) but at times brilliant and insightful. I cannot say that B&S make me want to kiss the sky, or be happy, for I don't think that's the intention. There is a lot of bitterness and loathing (perhaps not the self variety) behind the music that is very similar to Radiohead. I've had okc since the day it came out and have listened to it tens of times, and I find fresh nuances within it all the time. Radiohead, like B&S, dislike 'what's it's all about these days', and both, reveal a way out. -blake the duke thus spake: > >you're crazy. you're all crazy. > >> I couldn't agree more!!! There's a line that can be drawn straight from >> the Beatles through Radiohead and to B & S. > >i know it's more or less entirely subjective, but, um, you know the >lineage described here baffles me. I know people all make their own >cultural connections based on their experiences and inputs, and i'm no >different, but, well, really, you think there's something connecting >radioheed and B&S?? As far as i know Stuart has never been a spoilt brat >who is so far up his own arse that he can't tell the difference between >poetry and self-agrandised bullshit. No offence to any radioheed fans, i >mean... well actually okay, loads of offence to radioheed fans because >that's Pop: Drawing lines in the sand and saying 'that's pish' and 'that >isn't'. > >Radioheed are traditional Rock creatures, bred on the equation of >self-loathing and obvious suffering equals great art, an equation which >is, quite frankly, bollocks. I honestly tried to listen to that ok >computer record. Really, i did, but i couldn't. I just couldn't because >it sounded so, so OLD and DULL and everything i hate about Rock. B&S are >everything i LOVE about what i call Pop (read the archives or read a >book), and it's so far away from what radioheed stand for it hurts. See, >B&S are not about wallowing in self-pity or in self-importance. The only >'stances' they make are ones that are natural, stand up and out because >they don't shout or use the too esay and tired rock histrionics peddled >by the filth. I mean that artistically as well as >(potentially)politically too... B&S make me want to kiss the skies, make >me grin irrationally, make me do such dumb things you wouldn't believe. >They also make me want to CREATE and be involved and add beauty to the >world: beauty that is AFFIRMATIVE and glorious, and utterly in vain but >so what? Radioheed just sound like they want you to sleep, or write >tenth rate poetry or be 'worthy' or something. Fuck worthy. Radioheed >ooze boredom and B&S ooze humanity. They are a lot sexier too. > >As for the beatles, well, um, isn't it just TOO EASY to use them as some >'year zero' of line-drawing? particularly when talking about >contemporary artists, because even IF B&S are/were influenced by the >beatles, it's unlikely that they were experienced 'first hand'. In other >words, it's a distillation of the beatles through someone like, i dunno, >whoever in the 80s sounded like the beatles and talked about them a lot. >Someone crap probably. i'm not up on the beatles see... but it's like >saying that B&S are like The Byrds, only that would be seen through >Orange Juice, with expectations of the Byrds coloured by the views of >the OJs because they were fans of the OJs first and they introduced The >Byrds. This is getting confusing... I'm just arguing against real sense >and validity behind these perceived time-based lineages i guess. It's >all looped and eliptical, not straight. > >and the bottom line is i hate the beatles and radioheed as much as i >love B&S, which is A LOT. > >keep the faith, > >the duke > +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to "majordomo(a)majordomo.net". For list archives and searching, list rules, FAQ, poor jokes etc, see http://www.majordomo.net/sinister +---+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" +---+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Re: Sinister: Greetings Everyone
by Bill Moss 21 Dec '98

21 Dec '98

>From: Blake Hamilton <whoru(a)InfoAve.Net> >Anyways--I appreciate B&S for its fresh sound, Stuart for his caustic >(sometimes) and beautiful (sometimes) lyrics, (not to mention his >tasty tasty fret buzz), and its abundance of trumpet solos (why >not?!). >And perhaps to begin a discussion--am I the only one who adores Me >and the Major? I also enjoy 'Me and the Midget' more than ever especially with the cultural and transport references not to mention the inter-generational angst. Also a big fan of (I wouldn't call it fret buzz) but rather the cool squeaky new strings sound that one gets when moving up and down the fret board without fully releasing pressure on the strings (you can hear it on 'Beautiful' amongst others). Bill ______________________________________________________ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to "majordomo(a)majordomo.net". For list archives and searching, list rules, FAQ, poor jokes etc, see http://www.majordomo.net/sinister +---+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" +---+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: Fighting the good fight
by Reid Dossinger 21 Dec '98

21 Dec '98

I resisted the Demon of Sinister Negativity for as long as I could, and fought him when I need to. And I had him pinned at one point. And then I ignored him, and even though he followed me around with oatmeal raisin cookies and a glass of whole milk, trying to get me to give in to his wily, self-defeating ways, I wouldn't do it. "Noooo way", I said, when I'd gotten tired of ignoring him. "The Sinister list is for fun and knowledge and love of a common band, not for little negative tykes who think that negativity equals rebellious knowledge." But those cookies looked good, and when I let my guard down, he got me in a headlock, and now I'm gasping for air (still eating the cookies, though). I've joined the Dark Side of Sinister. All I want to do is write in telling listee after listee where they can cram it. So I'm gonna do that now. I hate having to thumb my nose at Paul's rule of not talking on the list on the list, but this is what it's come to. First off, if this isn't a list where people can blather on about how much they adore Belle and Sebastian, what good is it?! The notion that we shouldn't be obsessively in love with Belle and Sebastian ON THE BELLE AND SEBASTIAN LIST is so ridiculous that I don't even know where to start. My dukes are put up and waving angrily in defense of Lesley who rightly pointed out that just because there are those of us who are star-struck by the unbelievable talent of this incredible, "life-affirming" (David's very true words) band does NOT mean that we'll be jetting to Glasgow on the weekend to rummage through Mick's trash. Like Lesley said, don't take it so damn seriously. Next up: News Of The World. To put it mildly, I'm very, very upset about recent world events, especially the impeachment hearings. I walk around muttering to myself in imagined arguments and feel rock-bottom depressed every time the subjects come up. But to suggest that we're apathetic just because we aren't talking about the bombings ON THE BELLE AND SEBASTIAN LIST is almost as ridiculous as (see above). Very simply, this isn't the place for it. And if you feel inclined to say, "We shouldn't feel like we can ONLY talk about Belle and Sebastian", then you obviously haven't read Paul's FAQ. Which is the next point of order: READ THE FAQ <http://www.majordomo.net/sinister/faq.html>. I know this is a very Honey-like thing to say, and maybe I'm stepping over the boundries, but the importance of this was underlined when I had to re-subscribe to the list, and when I got the welcome mail that had the FAQ on it, I realized how many people obviously hadn't bothered looking at it. In my opinion (and a lot of others', too), Paul is a master at clear, patient writing, and if you're still confused as to what is acceptable on the list...<sigh> I don't know what to say. The next "too ridiculous for words" point is the sudden rash of people complaining about the acronyms. It's very simple: TBWTAS is a lot shorter than The Boy With The Arab Strap. And then it became TWATTYBUS and TIGGERJAMMIES because it's *funny*, something that this list used to be. I'm sure that it annoys people. There've been time when the names have become so bastartized that I can't even figure out what song is being discussed. But it's all in fun...just let it go, please. And while I'm already on your bad side, let me just let something out: There are those of us who are very proud of the places we live and the places we're from (rare for most Americans), and we don't particularly appreciate having our hometowns and states and countries dragged through the mud. Maybe you think this is an overly sensitive thing to ask, but please...just keep in mind that people live in the places that you hate, and some of them may be on this list. In no particular order, other things that need to stop: 1) ragging on Jeepster. These people have been nothing but gracious and passionate and caring about the bands and their fans. Why the sudden need to align them with uncaring corporate labels? It doesn't take more than a passing interest in the music business to know that there's a world of difference between majors and indies. If you want more details than that, let me know. I'd be glad to tell you. 2) ragging on anyone on this list, especially the ones who have been nothing but happy bunnies, like we're all *supposed* to be. 3) the rise-up of the "this B&S song is horrendous" camp. Criticize as much as you want. Most of us (not me) have B&S songs that we don't like. BUT don't call it unlistenable, or whatever. Either say "it doesn't do much for me" or something as equally non-confrontational, OR say WHY you don't like it. Look, we all love Belle and Sebastian, otherwise we wouldn't be here (in theory). But it just seems that lately, some of the posts seem to have taken on an AOL message board-style "You suck!" tone. Knock it off. There. Email primal screaming finished. I know I've over-stepped my bounds, but consider it temporary insanity. I hereby pledge to be the happiest bunny there is. I won't be forced out of my rightful place in the happy bunny lands. I will stay here, and be an example of the kind of lovey-dovey, B&S-obsessed, "send" button-pondering, wit and wisdom listee that Honey always wanted us to be, forcing out the grumblers and frowners. Or some shit like that... Not even Christmas, Reid +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to "majordomo(a)majordomo.net". For list archives and searching, list rules, FAQ, poor jokes etc, see http://www.majordomo.net/sinister +---+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" +---+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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RE: Sinister: Call me crazy
by Sandra Duric 21 Dec '98

21 Dec '98

All right, duke, I call you crazy, but in a good passionate I LOVE music kind of way... > I couldn't agree more!!! There's a line that can be drawn straight from > the Beatles through Radiohead and to B & S. i know it's more or less entirely subjective, but, um, you know the lineage described here baffles me. I know people all make their own cultural connections based on their experiences and inputs, and i'm no different, but, well, really, you think there's something connecting radioheed and B&S?? I think what whoever the first part is trying to say that as far as music cultural history goes, what B&S has in common with the beatles and radiohead is SIGNIFICANCE. A subtle connection, but still one. They all touching people beyond the throw-away crap rock-pop level commercial radio constantly spits up. But hey! Just my opinion. I agree that lyrically radiohead misses way more than B&S does... Merry, merry! Alexandra +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to "majordomo(a)majordomo.net". For list archives and searching, list rules, FAQ, poor jokes etc, see http://www.majordomo.net/sinister +---+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" +---+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: Call me crazy
by Peter Greenspan 21 Dec '98

21 Dec '98

Blake wrote: "I find today's music lacking, besides Radiohead, whom I find to be amazing...So when I first picked up Sinister...it was a delightful surprise" -------------------------------------- I couldn't agree more!!! There's a line that can be drawn straight from the Beatles through Radiohead and to B & S. I don't mean to say that there haven't been amazing groups in between (obviously there have been incredible and creative music in between.) But Radiohead and B & S represent to me what the Beatles would have been today (in two different incarnations obviously). The music is profoundly "colorful" and "sweet" and "courageous" in a way that music was afraid to be after the Beatles. Again, I'm not trying to sound like a nut (I LOVE a lot of other groups) But Radiohead and B & S have captured a simple, yet brilliant, elegance that was betrayed when the Beatles left us. Do I sound crazy or does this make sense? P.S. Thanks Anthony! +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to "majordomo(a)majordomo.net". For list archives and searching, list rules, FAQ, poor jokes etc, see http://www.majordomo.net/sinister +---+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" +---+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: Poetry Parrot?
by Blake Hamilton 21 Dec '98

21 Dec '98

All-- What is the situation with poetry and B&S? I understand that many of us fans enjoy writing the poetic line--so is there a submission procedure or a poetry forum? thanks blake +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to "majordomo(a)majordomo.net". For list archives and searching, list rules, FAQ, poor jokes etc, see http://www.majordomo.net/sinister +---+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" +---+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: poetry and all round good cheer
by vlass＠interlog.com 21 Dec '98

21 Dec '98

well.. it's around that time of the year when people start going home for the holidays and thus unsubscribing from the list so i figured there probably wasn't a poetry parrot for this monday? or maybe there is one but i haven't received the latest digest yet (my holiday interruption means switching from regular list to digest -- otherwise my parents start asking, "what is this 'sinister' thing sending you mail? are you in a cult?") sooo, i was at the library today and i found this poem to share with all of you.. i think it's darn sweet, and since i don't post enough to warrant a poetry parrot nomination, i decided to just go ahead and send it.. by Frank O'Hara Having a Coke with You is even more fun than going to San Sebastian, Irun, Hendaye, Biarritz, Bayonne or being sick to my stomach on the Traversera de Gracia in Barcelona partly because in your orange shirt you look like a better happier St. Sebastian partly because of my love for you, partly because of your love for yoghurt partly because of the fluorescent orange tulips around the birches partly because of the secrecy our smiles take on before people and statuary it is hard to believe when I'm with you that there can be anything as still as solemn as unpleasantly definitive as statuary when right in front of it in the warm New York 4 o'clock light we are drifting back and forth between each other like a tree breathing through its spectacles and the portrait show seems to have no faces in it at all, just paint you suddenly wonder why in the world anyone ever did them i look at you and i would rather look at you than all the portraits in the world except possibly for the -polish rider- occasionally and anyway it's in the Frick which thank heavens you haven't gone to yet so we can go together the first time and the fact that you move so beautifully more or less takes care of Futurism just as at home I never think of the -Nude Descending a Staircase- or at a rehersal a single drawing of Leonardo or Michelangelo that used to wow me and what good does all the research of the Impressionists do them when they never got the right person to stand near the tree when the sun sank or for that matter Marino Marini when he didn't pick the rider as carefully as the horse it seems they were all cheated of some marvellous experience which is not going to go wasted on me which is why I'm telling you about it i hope you liked it.. merry christmas :) teri xx your eyes are long vermont roads/with a tacky song on the radio/and your eyes are toothless young men/in tenessee in the rain again/ the magnetic fields/ http://members.tripod.com/~meltingsnow/ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to "majordomo(a)majordomo.net". For list archives and searching, list rules, FAQ, poor jokes etc, see http://www.majordomo.net/sinister +---+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" +---+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: peace out!!!
by r. h. 21 Dec '98

21 Dec '98

this is robbie all. i hate to inform you all (but some of you will be happy to know) that i'm signing off for obvious reasons. maybe i'll pop up every now and then to tell you guys a smutty story or two. megan, janine and tara don't forget about me you have my address. and jonny, don't miss me baby, i still want some of that pie. see you on the sha-na-na. and for anyone who's intrested we are putting the web site up the day after christmas. my instant message is hefner101. lets talk some time kids. and someone please take this to heart since i wont be here: humor is a good thing every now and then! some of you should try it out. i'm leaving tara in charge of all my left over smut. you kids be good and remember that we all love belle and sebastian but it doesn't mean that we have to try to act like the people that stuart sings about. oh, and poetry is the devil. peace out. robbie. ______________________________________________________ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to "majordomo(a)majordomo.net". For list archives and searching, list rules, FAQ, poor jokes etc, see http://www.majordomo.net/sinister +---+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" +---+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Sinister: what's wrong??
by Vanessa R. Siegl 21 Dec '98

21 Dec '98

Are my mails actually (or rather did the mail I sent) come through or is something wrong? _____________________________________________________ Forgive me for I have not sinned csaa7950(a)uibk.ac.at _gapminder(a)yahoo.com +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list please mail "sinister(a)majordomo.net". To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to "majordomo(a)majordomo.net". For list archives and searching, list rules, FAQ, poor jokes etc, see http://www.majordomo.net/sinister +---+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" +---+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

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